Eye of Nix, Blue Sabbath Black Cheer, Hail, Winter in the Blood

[SHADES OF DARKNESS] Every band on this bill is impressive, but the new blood worth tasting here is Eye of Nix. The band formed in Seattle in 2012 and plays an impressive mélange of styles, from death rock to cabaret to opera, with some unquantifiable x-factor that makes it all work. Bands this eclectic are typically off-putting, but Eye of Nix commands its instruments and wields its vision handily. The real unifying factor is avant-garde vocalist Joy Von Spain. Her pipes range from bluesy to operatic to downright terrifying. One live performance sold me on Eye of Nix as the best new band in Seattle.